8

After the bell rang announcing the entrance to class I sat in the same place as the time Colton came, since now my place up front had been taken by Loren, it had to be her. I was not surprised not to see Colton sitting here as he is likely to come late or not come at all. I deduced the latter as I saw him coming up behind the professor. He came to my side and sat down, at that moment the drawing he had made came to my mind and an urge to ask him who he was came over me but I restrained myself.

-All right, guys, today we will work in pairs, just as you are. -The coexistence and civics teacher explained. You have to write down your partner's likes and dislikes and what they like to do in their free time, if they work, if their parents get along well, here we are not going to be embarrassed or anything. The reason for this will be to help those of you who have problems, okay? Okay, let's get started.

A handful of students could be heard booing not liking the teacher's idea, however others were silent as if uncomfortable. I glanced at Colton, who was scribbling in his notebook with no interest in the class.

The professor sat at his desk while the others began to ask their partners what was given. I picked up my pencil and looked at Colton.

-Colton? -I called his attention.

But he didn't even look up.

-I like to do business," he replied. That's all.

I frowned without understanding, was that all he could tell me? And why didn't he look at me?

-Just that? The professor won't believe it, you have to tell me more about yourself," I muttered. Although thinking about it, this job couldn't have come at a better opportunity, maybe I know more things about him than I knew so far, and they were: nothing. Well, just that he loves to smoke and hit for no reason. But I couldn't write that down.

He looked up.

-There's nothing more to know, Monique," he said, in fact it was like a sentence.

-Colton, you'll make us fail," I said in a whisper.

He shrugged his shoulders.

-It's not my problem," and he turned his eyes back to his notebook.

What was he doing that he wasn't paying attention to me?  

Without thinking twice, and taking me by surprise, I snatched the notebook away from him, looking at what he was writing or... drawing. It was a girl, apparently I was only giving her profile, but I looked at her wearing glasses, I could see the shape of her nose and mouth. She was barely wearing her hair and it looked like she was going for her blouse and shoulder. However, I couldn't help but think that it was the same girl in the drawing, the one I looked at every day in a mirror.

Colton snatched the notebook from me before I could see any further. I arranged my glasses and put my elbows on the table, looking up at him.

-A girl, huh? -I muttered.

He put the book down on the table, put his elbows on the table as I had them and looked at me.

-Yes, is there a problem? -he attacked me, but he didn't seem angry.

I shook my head.

-No, it's good to know that you like someone. And you draw super well, more than well I would say, excellent," I smiled at him.

He snorted, looking straight ahead. I didn't know if that girl was me or Angelique, I mean, it's more likely to be Angelique because they were kissing and so on, plus there was something that didn't fit the matter, she didn't wear glasses, while I did. But Colton wouldn't notice someone as plain and boring as me.

-Now you're going to pretend you don't know who she is," he looked at me.

His question took me by surprise, I wanted to ask but I was afraid of the answer, so I just shook my head.

-No, it must be a nice girl you really like," I looked down.

He laughed softly.

-Yes, but she's a bit naive and innocent," he said. Being with someone toxic like me would only ruin her life. And I don't want that.

I looked at him.

-And why don't you let her decide that? -I asked.

-Because she'd be foolish enough to say yes," he smiled sideways.

Silly?

I didn't know what to say about that, he seemed to be dropping a hint, but he wasn't, was he? My lovelorn subconscious wants me to think that, but I won't do it. I still have some dignity.

-Yeah, well too bad for you," I finally spoke, "You'll just be left with the question in your head of what would have happened if you had tried.

-Maybe. But your life wouldn't be ruined," he picked up his notebook again, turned the drawing page to a clean one and began to write down.

What is he writing? It was minutes before he put the notebook down on the table.

-I'm done," he said. Let me borrow yours," he took my notebook and began to write as well.

-What did you write? Can I read? -I asked. He shrugged his shoulders without looking at me. That gave me his permission, so I took the notebook and read the writing.

Monique Draper.

-She gets nervous when you look into her eyes.

-Her hobby is reading and writing romance stories.

-Her mother died when she was ten.

-Her origins are French.

-She has a twin sister whom she loves very much but her sister is no longer the same.

-Her father wants to play the role of mother but honestly it doesn't fit him, but we have to accept it, he does what he can.

-She's never had a boyfriend or had her first kiss, but there's something else: she's never liked anyone. Until now.

-She has her life planned out, a fairy tale. But that doesn't exist.

-She'd rather be in a library reading than going to a party.

-He's too innocent and that can be dangerous.

-She likes to watch horror movies even if she can't sleep at night.

-She used to be alone, now she's not.

I stood there static, dumbfounded, speechless, unblinking, it's just.... How is it possible that Colton Dashner knew so much about me? How? If we only met two days ago, he couldn't have known that already, could he? Unless someone told him, but there were things that no one else knew. Not even my sister. Colton set my notebook down on the table, catching my eye. I looked at it. It was looking at me, examining me.

-You know... a lot about me," I replied, "everything, really.

He didn't say anything, he was just watching me.

-And I don't know anything about you," I concluded.

-That's better.

I looked at my notebook, I had written things from him so without thinking I read them, feeling his gaze on me.

Colton Dashner.

-18 years old.

-He only has his mother.

-His father died when he was ten.

-Still drawing.

-He prefers going to parties to reading books, until now he believed that.

-He doesn't believe in love or happy endings.

-There are no more opportunities for him.

Was that all he had written? That was nothing, he only wrote the basics, just the things he let on. I wanted to know more about Colton Dashner, but he wasn't going to let me.

-Hey... -I started to say, but then the bell rang, announcing that we were going out to lunch. Colton grabbed his notebook and left the classroom.

-The papers are due tomorrow," I heard the teacher's voice.

I stood there, more confused than ever.

***

It was nighttime, I hadn't seen Colton since our meeting in class, it didn't seem weird anymore. It was seven o'clock, I was sitting on the couch reading a few pages of my book while waiting for Darren, I didn't even understand why I had said yes to him. I had put on a dress that came a little above my knees, something decent, of course, and I had tied my hair in a ponytail. My sandals were low and comfortable, I had decided to be alone for a while with Darren and then excuse myself that I wasn't feeling well and then come.

The doorbell rang, I left my book on the couch and went ahead to open it.

Darren was dressed in black slacks and a white dress shirt, but the sleeves were tucked up almost to his elbows. The top buttons of his shirt were unbuttoned, giving him a super sexy look. Did I say sexy? Her hair was somewhere between tousled and fine.

-Hi, ready? -she questioned, smiling.

-Yes, I am.

I stepped out into the street, the cold air hit my skin, making it prickle. His car was parked there, it was black. When I got there, he opened the passenger door for me.

-Go ahead.

-Thank you," I said as I got in and closed my door.

I couldn't help but glance at Margaret's house, no sign of Colton. Darren sat in the front seat, starting the car.

-We'll have fun tonight, you'll see," he said with a smile.

That's what worries me, Darren, having more fun than I should.